VICO Capri: The Island Finds Its Pizza & Cocktail Moment
Capri has always had a way of luring visitors with its dramatic cliffs, crystalline waters, effortless elegance, and endless aperitivo hours. What it was perhaps missing was a pizza destination worthy of the setting. That changed with the arrival of VICO Pizza & Bistrot, the acclaimed Rome pizzeria just steps from the Pantheon, often described as “the most beautiful pizzeria in the world.” This season, VICO has opened its first summer outpost on the island, brought to life by Antonio Palumbo, fourth generation of the Palumbo De Angelis family and the driving force behind the VICO project. The concept feels surprisingly natural — as if it had always belonged here.
A Hidden Mediterranean Garden in the Heart of Capri
Tucked away along the road leading to the Certosa di San Giacomo and the Gardens of Augustus, just a short walk from the Piazzetta and Via Camerelle, VICO Capri reveals itself discreetly behind an entrance framed by a tunnel of cascading bougainvillea and fragrant jasmine. Beyond it, a lush Mediterranean garden unfolds, filled with mature banana trees, ferns, and aromatic herbs, complemented by custom-made furnishings inspired by 1950s Italian design.
Set within the elegant courtyard of Hotel La Residenza, VICO Capri blends naturally into the island’s atmosphere. Surrounded by greenery and just steps from Capri’s most iconic streets, the restaurant brings together food, hospitality, and the relaxed elegance of the island. Leading the dining room is Luca Schiavo, maître and sommelier, who guides the experience with a thoughtful approach to service and wine, adding another layer of refinement to the evening.
What sets VICO Capri apart is its approach to pizza: not as a casual afterthought, but as a dish treated with the same craftsmanship, attention to detail, and sense of occasion that define Capri’s culinary scene.
The Chefs Shaping the Experience
At the heart of the open kitchen, young pizza chef Gennaro Lauro — born in Torre del Greco and trained at VICO Rome — works with quiet confidence, shaping doughs and tending the ovens in full view of guests. Alongside him, chef Giuseppe Squillante brings a distinctly culinary perspective to the menu, creating toppings that go beyond convention without ever losing sight of balance, as well as the dishes he prepares for the restaurant menu. The result is a style of pizza that feels both familiar and surprisingly refined, where technique, ingredients, and creativity come together seamlessly.
The Pizza Menu: From Neapolitan Classics to Creative Signatures
The menu features 17 pizzas (€16–€36), ranging from impeccably executed classics to more creative interpretations. Great attention is paid to every stage of the process, from flour selection and fermentation to the different cooking methods employed, whether traditional wood-fired, double-cooked, or thin and crispy styles. Among the standout creations is the Genovese d’Estate, a double-cooked pizza first fried and then baked in the oven. Topped with slow-cooked Montoro onions, tuna tartare, cacioricotta, mint, and poppy seeds, it is an unexpectedly harmonious combination that showcases the kitchen’s inventive approach.
For those who prefer the classics, the Margherita highlights the quality of its ingredients through simplicity, while the Piennolo offers a taste of Campania with prized Piennolo del Vesuvio tomatoes, buffalo provola, and Parmigiano Reggiano. Equally memorable is the Capri Marinara, bringing together the flavors of the Mediterranean with roasted tomato purée, caper powder, Taggiasca olives, Cetara anchovies, wild garlic pesto, and fresh basil — a pizza that captures the essence of the sea and southern Italy in every bite.
Beyond Pizza: The Bistrot Side of VICO
With pasta dishes and main courses (€18–€42), the bistrot menu provides plenty of reasons to linger beyond the pizza. Among the highlights are the classic vermicelli alle vongole, elevated with sweet confit cherry tomatoes, and the linguine all’astice, where tender lobster is paired with delicate asparagus tips for a dish that feels both elegant and comforting.
While seafood naturally plays a leading role on an island like Capri, chef Giuseppe Squillante has created a menu that caters to a variety of tastes. Meat lovers can choose from dishes such as grilled beef fillet or richly flavored braised veal cheek, while seafood enthusiasts will appreciate preparations like grilled amberjack with sautéed escarole, olives, capers, and pine nuts, or slow-cooked octopus finished on the grill with silky purple potato cream. The result is a concise but thoughtfully composed menu that complements the pizza offering without competing with it.
Capri After Sunset: Salotto 42 Cocktails Under the Stars
As evening settles over the garden, the atmosphere shifts once again. Salotto 42, the celebrated Roman cocktail bar founded by Manuel Paolini and his partners,
takes over a gazebo nestled among the greenery, serving expertly
crafted drinks beneath softly glowing lights. It is a scene that feels
unmistakably Capri — elegant yet relaxed, sophisticated without ever trying too hard.
The cocktail program is in equally capable hands. Paolini relocates to Capri for the season, bringing a selection of 26 cocktails and four mocktails built around premium spirits, fresh ingredients, and house-made preparations. Behind the bar, young bartender Giuseppe Carrano prepares each drink with precision and enthusiasm. Signature creations include the Spritz Salotto 42, one of the bar’s beloved classics, alongside cocktails such as the Medieval Tiki and Summer Margarita, showcasing vibrant fruit and herb-driven flavors perfectly suited to long Mediterranean evenings. Particularly refreshing is the La Residenza Cup, created in homage to the hotel and made with Limoncello La Residenza, raspberries, and champagne — a bright and elegant cocktail that captures the spirit of a Capri summer in a glass.
Hotel La Residenza: The Setting Behind the Experience
The experience at VICO Capri extends beyond the table itself. Set within the elegant courtyard of Hotel La Residenza, the restaurant becomes part of a larger Capri story — one shaped by history, Mediterranean beauty, and a slower pace of living. Built from the historic Villa Caterina, once the residence of Prince Caracciolo, the hotel carries the charm of Capri’s past while embracing a more contemporary sense of hospitality.
Located just steps from the Piazzetta yet surrounded by greenery and tranquility, La Residenza offers a rare balance between being at the heart of the island and feeling tucked away from it. Its gardens, filled with Mediterranean vegetation and timeless Capri atmosphere, provide the perfect backdrop for the VICO and Salotto 42 experience — from an afternoon pizza to an evening cocktail beneath the stars.
Part of the hospitality portfolio of the Palumbo De Angelis family, the same owners behind VICO in Rome, La Residenza completes the vision behind this new Capri destination: a place where food, cocktails, design, and the island’s effortless elegance come together naturally.
VICO Pizza&Bistrot - Capri
Address: Via Federico Serena 22, 80073 Capri (NA), ItalyTel: +39 335 6257864
Website: https://www.vicopizzaandwine.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vicosalotto42capri
Opening Times: Everyday between 12:30 to15.00 and 19:00-24:00
